Anadolu Efes Istanbul missed out on the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoffs last season after winning back-to-back championships in 2021 and 2022. A new era now begins for Efes with an ambitious new coach in Erdem Can, a new star guard and several more newcomers eager to make a big impact in the competition. The goal remains the same: to fight for the EuroLeague title.
2023-24 Roster Rundown: Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Artículo
5 Min lectura
BACKCOURT
Darius Thompson was Efes's marquee signing this summer. He arrives to fill some big shoes but Thompson has already proven to be a EuroLeague star after a fantastic 2022-23 season with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in which he led the competition in assists (6.7 apg.). Moreover, he did it with a flair, flow and poise rarely seen at this level. With more talent around him, Thompson could take another big step forwards and challenge for an All-EuroLeague spot.
Shane Larkin is back as a fully established superstar. A scoring talent like few others with unlimited range, Larkin also uses his skills to get to the basket from where he can exploit defensive holes and pass the ball to open players. Rodrigue Beaubois is back to offer instant offense: when he gets going, Beaubois is an unstoppable scorer. Beaubois is also a surprising defender with good shot blocking skills. Elijah Bryant is a key player on Efes's perimeter due to his size, experience, driving skills and deep shooting range. Erten Gazi is a great on-the-ball defender, as is playmaker Dogus Ozdemiroglu, though the latter may miss most of the season due to injury.
FRONTCOURT
Efes's new lineup should allow Will Clyburn to play at this natural position, small forward, more often. Right at the prime of his career, Clyburn can score against any defender due to his outstanding ballhandling, basketball IQ and all-around skills. If a game is on the line, Clyburn may be the team's first option. Newcomers Erkan Yilmaz and Derek Willis should see playing time right away. Yilmaz is a versatile forward who can run the floor and attack the rim with great aggressiveness. Willis is a force of nature who can rebound well at both ends and pull the trigger from any angle. Burak Can Yildizli and Ercan Osmani are well-rounded forwards give Coach Can even more depth and versatility.
Few teams will be deeper at center, as Efes has three very different looks. Tyrique Jones can play above the rim and use his outstanding physicality to power the boards. Tibor Pleiss is an unconventional yet very effective center who can score in many ways: jump hooks, catch-and-shoot three-pointers, dunks, you name it. Ante Zizic is a great rebounder who is always willing to attack the rim to either score or draw fouls. Young center Efe Demirel can learn a lot from all three Efes centers.
PLAYER TO WATCH
All eyes will be on Thompson, but Willis is a key addition, too. Willis is the kind of player who can contribute in many ways due to his high intensity and physicality. He is also a very accurate shooter: Willis ranked sixth in three-point shooting (47.5%) and fourth in free-throw accuracy (90.7%) in the 2022-23 EuroCup. He is fifth all-time in that competition in three-point shooting, having made 60 of 125 attempts (48.0%). The only thing missing is EuroLeague experience and how he will respond at this level. Willis, however, has played against EuroLeague teams in domestic competitions in Germany, Spain and Italy. Given his explosiveness, speed and shooting accuracy, Willis may surprise a lot of EuroLeague fans this season.
OUTLOOK
After spending most of his career as an assistant coach, Can was chosen as the 2022-23 EuroCup Coach of the Year and is now making his debut as a head coach on this stage. Efes changed some key players but kept a core that has been together for a long time. Larkin, Beaubois and Pleiss are now the new locker room veterans. Thompson can put the ball anywhere on the court, and by adding Jones and Willis, Efes could be one of the most fun-to-watch teams in the competition, with a lot of players able to run the floor and finish strong. Consistency should be key for Efes, as it has everything it takes to challenge for a Final Four spot.